652576, Rifleman, George Sidney MILNE
Aged 21
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Born in Newmarket in Q1-1895 [Newmarket 3b:541], the 2nd of 10 sons of Frank and Bertha MILNE (née BRIDGEMAN) of 22 St Philips Road,
Newmarket, later of King Edward Road.
1901 census...Sidney [7] was at 22 St {hilips Road, Newmarket with his father Frank [37], a transporter, born in Barham, Kent; his mother Bertha [30] born Burwell; his brothers Albert [8] and John [1] and sisters Hilda [6] and Ida [4]. All the children were Newmarket born. 1911 census...George [16] an office boy, was living in Exning Road, Newmarket with his parents and 9 siblings. New arrivals were brothers Henry [9]; Frank [7]; Frederick [5]; Alexander [3] and Robert [1, all born in Newmarket. His entry in "Our Exning Heroes" reads: " Born in St.Philips Road in 1895. Educated at St. Mary's Boys' School, and the worked in the Newmarket Gas Company's Office and for the Great Eastern Railway Company in Hertfordshire. He joined up in the spring of 1915 in the London Rifle regiment and went to France the same year. He was invalided home owing to trench feet and rheumatism in March,1916. After sick leave he was recalled to his regiment in France, and was killed in High Wood in September 1916. He always sang in St.Etheldreda's Choir when the Rev. J.V.Minter was Master, and was in the Sunday School at St Philip's." |
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The 15th September 1916 was the first time tanks were used at the Somme in the attack on High Wood. 1/21st London Rifles were in 47th (1/2nd London) Division. High Wood was captured along with the Switch Line, in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on 15 September 1916. The closeness of the two front-lines meant that the 3 Corps commander (Lt.Gen.Sir William Pulteney), chose to use the new tanks instead of artillery. Another problem at High Wood was that the Bazentin Ridge was between our artillery and High Wood and the trajectory was so low that "friendly fire" deaths were not uncommon as a result.After two months of heavy fighting High Wood was not ideal ground for tanks, especially these first tanks. Four tanks were allocated to High Wood but only one, D-13 got far. The 1st Surreys had 136 killed on this day alone, and 110 have no known grave, being commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial |
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